Kevin Engellant retires from coaching the Bulldogs after 13 years

Coach Engellant steps down from his position as head women's basketball coach but will remain at Montana Western as a business instructor. By Wally FeldtKevin Engellant, the winningest coach in University of Montana Western women’s basketball history, announced his retirement today after 13 years.
“I want to thank Montana Western for giving me the opportunity to be a head coach,” Engellant said. “It has been a great 13 years and a wonderful ride.”
With Engellant at the reins, the Bulldogs were 269-138 over 13 seasons including three conference championships and four conference tournament championships. Engellant was selected conference coach of the year three times and selected by the Women’s Basketball Coach’s Association regional coach of the year.
"Kevin turned the women's basketball program into a national powerhouse,” Montana Western Athletic Director Mark Durham said. “He has made a positive impact on so many people's lives and has so much respect around the state and nation. He has done so much for the town of Dillon and the university. He is going to be missed."
“There have been so many wonderful memories, and I’ve many great and lasting relationships developed over the years I can't possible list them all,” Engellant said.
There were several memorable games, but two stand out Engellant said. The first was during the 1999-2000 season when the Bulldogs upset No. 1 and unbeaten Lewis-Clark for the conference championship with a buzzer-beating, half-court shot by Alison Burlingame. The win secured the Bulldog’s first appearance in the NAIA national tournament, number one of eight straight trips to the nationals.
Engellant also listed the Bulldog’s historic 80-73 win over Idaho State University in 2001-20002 as a standout. At the time the NCAA Division I school was the defending Big Sky Conference champion.
“I have to give credit to all of the outstanding student athletes I've had the pleasure to coach and the assistant coaches that have helped make our program successful and my job so enjoyable,” Engellant said.
Going into this season, the Engellant-coached program produced 37 all-conference players, eight all-americans, 67 academic all-conference players and 26 academic all-Americans. Bulldog players were selected conference player of the week 47 times and national player of the week once.
Montana Western players were selected as the conference most valuable player three times, defensive player of the year three times, freshman of the year twice and newcomer of the year once.
Engellant may be putting down his clipboard, but he will remain in the Montana Western family as a professor in the business department.
“I really feel like the timing is right,” Engellant said. “I want my family to be my number one priority. I want to watch my kids in their activities and enjoy their athletic careers.”
Engellant and wife Roxanne are the parents of Kyler age two, Courtney age 13 and J.T. age 15.
Engellant is a 1986 graduate of Geraldine High School and a 1991 graduate of Western Montana College. In 1994, he received his master’s degree in education from the University of Montana.